Tank filling means



Feb. 4, 1941. Q J BROWNING 2,230,741

TANK FILLING MEANS Filed Feb. 14, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 vh I WI THESSPatented Feb. 4, 1941 James E. Browning, San Antonio, Tex.

Application February 14, 1940, Serial No. 318,975

8 Claims.

The invention relates to means for filling storage tanks with liquefiedgas such as butane, used quite extensively in domestic and industrialgassystems. The storage tanks are usually refilled from a tank truckthrough a hose which may be coupled to the filler pipe of any tank to befilled.

Heretofore, it has been expected that the tank truck driver shallexercise great caution to prevent filling any storage tank to adangerously high level. If the temperature of the liquefied gas beingsupplied to a storage tank be relatively high, said storage tank may besafely filled to a.

relatively high level, whereas if the liquefied gas be at a relativelylow temperature, the storage tank cannot be safely filled to such a highlevel.

This is true because the pressure-producing potentialities of therelatively high temperature liquefied gas (upon expansion into a givenspace) are not as great as those of liquefied gas at relatively lowtemperaturewith regard to the same space. Consequently, with relativelyhigh tem perature liquefied gas, less room may be left in the storagetank for expansion without danger of creating a pressure greater thanthe tank can safely hold, whereas if the storage tank were filled to thesame level with relatively low temperature liquefied gas, there would besevere danger of producing a dangerously high pressure. The tank truckdriver has heretofore been 30 expected to use a thermometer to determinethe temperature of the liquefied gas he is to discharge into any storagetank, to use said temperature as a guide in approximating the safe levelto 1 overcome such hazards that I have devised the present inventionwhich .entireiy eliminates the human element in determining thesafe-level to 5 which any storage tank may be filled.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subjectmatter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplishedby reference to the accompanying draw- 50. ings.

Figure 1 is a side elevationpartly broken away and in section showingthe invention.

, Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to a por-.

tion of Fig. 1 but showing the valve closing fioat 55 ll adjusteddownwardly.

(c1. ca -1) Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section through the partsshown at the left of Fig. 1, the valve 32 being in its normal closedposition.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of Fig. 3 but showingvalve 32 in tank-filling 5 position.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the latch 31 tripped andthe valve 32 closed to stop the filling operation.

In the drawings above briefly described, a pre- 1 ferred constructionhas been illustrated, and while that construction will be ratherspecifically explained, it is to be understood that within the scope ofthe invention as claimed, variations may be made. 15 A storage tank I0is shown for butane or other liquefied gas. ll merely denotes a gasdischarge jacket or pipe aroundanother pipe l2, the upper end of whichcarries a suitable fitting l3, which fitting carries a liquid levelgauge II, a pressure '20 relief valve I5, and a pressure gauge (notshown). It denotes a gas discharge line connected with the jacket orpipe ll, I'I indicates a pressure-closed excess fiow valve connectedwith said jacket or pipe, and I8 denotes suitable piping connecting avapor return valve I! with said jacket or pipe. At 20, I have indicatedpart of a float-actuated means for operating the liquid level gauge l4.

Rising from the tank I is a filler pipe 2 I, havmg a filling valve 22 atits upper end and also having a coupling 23 for connecting thetankfiiling hose of a tank truck with the upper end of said filler pipe2|. The upper end of the coupling 23 is normally closed by a screw plug24 and when this plug is removed, the filling hose may be readilycoupled to said coupling. The hose may carry suitable provision to pressdownwardly upon the valve 22 and open same against 'the pressure of thespring 25. If the liquefied 40 gas is to be supplied to the tank I. bygravity, a vapor-return hose (not shown) is coupled to the vapor-returnpipe I! and extends to the tank of the tank truck to conduct vapors fromthe tank I 0 to the truck tank while the liquefied gas is 7 chamber 28.This valve chamber is provided with an upper downwardly facing valveseat 29 and with a lower upwardly facing valve seat 3|), the

latter being preferably formed by the upper side 3 of a ring 3| threadedinto the lower end of the casing 26. A disk valve 32 is located in thechamber 28 and is provided with a downwardly projecting stem 33, whichstem is slidably received in the upper end of a tubular guide 34 whichis rigidly carried by and projects downwardly from the casing 26, saidtubular guide 34 being secured to a spider 35 carried by the ring 3 I inthe present showing. A coiled spring 36 normally seats the valve 32gently against the upper seat 29 but when liquid is being admittedthrough the filler pipe .1", said valve unseats. During the fillingoperation, however, this valve is held against coming in contact withthe lower seat 30, by a pivoted latch 37 which underlies the stem 33,said latch being pivoted at 38 to the guide 34 and being preferably inthe form of a bell crank with its upper end positioned to abut the stem33 when valve 32 is forced off the seat 29. The guide 34, when of thetubular form herein disclosed, is of course provided with a suitableslot 39 through which the vertical arm of the latch 31 extends.

A vertically swingable lever 40 having a float 4|, forms part of thevalve means associated with the lower end of the filler pipe 2|, saidlever 40 being pivoted at 42 to the horizontal arm of the latch 31. Thefulcrum 43 of the lever 40 is between the ends of the latter andprovision is made for automatically adjusting this fulcrum upwardly whenliquefied gas at relatively high temperature is being admitted to thetank "I, and for automatically adjusting said fulcrum down-J wardly whenliquefied gas at relatively low temperature is being admitted. Wheneverthe tank is when relatively low temperature liquefied as is beingadmitted.

When handling butane, a pressurestat is prefer- I thus be seen that apressurestat may readily be or downwardly to 50 position the same as tocause valve closing before the tank ill has been filled to a level whichwould later become dangerous due to insufficient room for expansion.

A pressurestat has been shown and it is prefer= ably of the constructionshown more particularly sure is forty pounds to the square inch. It willused to accurately adjust the float 4| upwardly in Fig. 3. A verticallydisposed Sylphon bellows 44 is provided, closed at its upper end by aplate 45 and closed at its lower end by another plate 46. The upper endof the Sylphon bellows is secured suitably to the top of the tank ID orotherwise fixedly mounted, and the lower end of said 25 Sylphon bellowscarries the fulcrum 43.- Pressure increase within the tank It] above apredetermined extent, contracts the bellows 44 thereby raising thefulcrum 43 and the float 4|. Diminution of pressure in tank I0 permitsexpansion of the bellows 44 under the influence of a suitable spring 41and thus the fulcrum 43 and float 4| are downwardly adjusted. In thisconnection, it is of course to be recalled that ingoing liquefied gas atrelatively high temperature will produce more pressure in the tank ||ithan liquefied gas at relatively low temperature.

In the present showing, an upper guide 48 and a lower guide 49 areslidably telescopedwithln the filled sufficiently to'cause the liquid tolift the benws and. are secured the upper and float 4|, the'lever 40releases the latch 31 and the pressure of the ingoing liquid against thevalve 32 immediately seats it against the lower seat 30, stopping thefilling operation. As float 4| is in a lower position when liquefied gasat relatively low temperature is being admitted (due to the downwardadjustment of the fulcrum 43), it will be seen that the tank will not befilled to so high a level with this liquefied gas, as it will be withliquefied gas at relatively high temperature which effects positioningof the fioat 4| at a higher elevation, due to the upward adjustment ofthe fulcrum 43. The pressure of the low temperature liquefied gas isrelatively little but the pressure-increasing potentiality thereof uponreaching normal tank temperature, is much greater than that ofrelatively high temperature liquefied gas and it is thus necessary toleave more room in the tank for expansion when relatively lowtemperature liquefied gas is being fed to the tank ID, in order that aserious pressure j shall not exist in said tank upon expansion of theliquid and liberation of gas therefrom.

The above mentioned vertical adjustments of the fulcrum 43 arepreferably effected by means of a pr. surestat subjected to the pressurewith- I in the tank It! but it is of course possible to make use of athermostat subjectedto the temperature within said tank. In eitherinstance, I utilize means-(pressurestat or thermostat) responsive toconditions in the tank In for upwardly adjusting the fulcrum 43 andfloat 4| when relatively high temperature liquefied gas is beingadmitted, and

for downwardly adjusting said fulcrum and float lower plates 45 and 46respectively. Each of the guides 48 and 49 may well consist of a shortlength of metal extending through the adjacent plate 45 or 46, and whenthis construction is ema ployed, the upperend of the guide 48 may bethreaded into aboss 50 carried by the upper wall of the tank "I, and thelower end of the guide 49 may be bifurcated to receive the lever 40 andcarry the fulcrum 43. It is to be understood, however, that the upperend of the bellows 44 could be anchored in any suitable way and that thelower end of said bellows could carry the' fulcrum 43 in any preferredmanner.

The valve 32 normally stands as shown in Fig. 3, being held lightlyagainst the seat 29 by the spring 36, and the latch 31 then occupiesaposition under the stem 33 as shown in said view. When liquefied gas isbeing admitted through the filler pipe 2|, it forces the valve 32 fromits seat 29 and the latch 31 limits the descent of said valve. As theliquefied gas enters the tank and changes the pressure (either up ordown) in said .ztank, the pressurestat 44, etc. automatically effectspositioning of the float 4| so that it will'be lifted. by the liquidsupplied to the tank as soon 1- as said liquid has reached thepredetermined safe level for its temperature. When this level isreached, float 4| is operated, thereby causing -lever 40 to release thelatch 31, whereupon the pressure of the liquid upon the valve 32immediately seats it against the lower seat 30 and stops the fillingoperation. As soon as the filling hose is uncoupled, the pressure abovethe valve 32 is relieved and the spring 36 immediately seats said valveagainst the upper seat 29.

Obviously,

" the entire float-actuated valve means'will be self- 1. In a liquefiedgas'storag e means, a storage tank havingv a liquefied gas inlet passageand a gas discharge passage, valve means for closing said liquefied gasinlet passage, said valve means having afloat in said tank to causevalve closing when said float is lifted by the liquid admitted to thetank, and means responsive to conditions in said tank for upwardlyadjusting said float with respect to the liquid level when relativelyhightemperature liquefied gas is admitted to said tank and fordownwardly adjusting said float with respect to the liquid level whenrelatively lowtemperature liquefied gas is admitted.

2. In a liquefied gas storage means, a storage tank having a liquefiedgas inlet passage and a gas discharge passage, valve means for closingsaid liquefied gas inlet passage, said valve means having a.float-carrying lever in said tank operable to cause valve closing whenits float is lifted by the liquid admitted to the tank, a fulcrum forsaid lever mounted for vertical adjustment, and means responsive toconditions in said tank for raising said fulc for lowering said fulcrumwhen relatively lowtemperature liquefied gas is admitted.

3. In a liquefied gas storage means, a storage tank having a liquefiedgas inlet passage and a gas discharge-passage, valve means for closingsaid liquefied gas inlet passage, said valve means having a float insaid tank to cause valve closin when said float is lifted by the liquidadmitted to the tank, and pressure-actuated means responsive to pressureconditions in said tank for up wardly adjusting said float with respectto the liquid level when .relatively high-temperature liquefied gas isadmitted to said tank and for downwardly adjusting said float withrespect to the liquid level when relatively low-temperature.

liquefied gas is admitted. I

4. In a liquefied gas storage means, a storage tank having a liquefiedgas inlet passage and a pressure-actuated means responsive to pressureconditions in said tank for raising said fulcrum when relativelyhigh-temperature liquefied gas is admitted to the tank and for loweringsaid fulcrum when relatively low-temperature liquefied gas is admitted.

. 5.1In a liquefied gas storage means, a storage tank having a liquefiedgas inlet passage and a v y when relatively high-temperature liquefiedgas is admitted to the tank and gas discharge passage, valve means forclosing said liquefied gas inlet passage, said valve means having afloat-carrying lever effective to cause valve closing when the float islifted by the liquid in said tank, and a pressurestat in said tankcarrying the fulcrum of said lever and operative to raise said lever andits float with respect to the liquid level as the gas pressure increasesin said tank, and vice versa.

6. In a liquefied gas storage means, a. storage tank having a liquefiedgas inlet passage and a gas discharge passage, valve means for closingsaid liquefied gas inlet passage, said valve means having afloat-carrying lever effective to cause valve closing when the float islifted by the liquid in said tank, a sylphon bellows in said tank abovesaid lever and closed at both of its ends, means securing the upper endof said bellows to the tank, slidably engaged guides within said bellowsand secured to-the upper and lower ends thereof respectively, a lugprojecting downwardly from the lower end of said bellows and carryingthe fulcrum of said lever to lift the latter and its float when gaspressure in the tank contracts said bellows, and a spring in saidbellows for extending the same to lower said lever and its float asthegas pressure decreases.

'matic means for vertically adjusting said. float with respect to theliquid level.

8.. In a tank-filling valve, a valve casing having a vertical passagefor conducting liquid downwardly} therethrough, said. passage beingenlarged between its ends to provide a valve-receiving chamber,-said'chamber having an upper valve seat facing" downwardly and a lowervalve seat facing upwardly, a valve in said chamber having upper andlower valve portions to engage the two seats respectively, said valvehaving a downward- I 1y projecting stem, 8. vertical guide for said stemfixedly carried by said casing and projecting downwardly below saidstem, a spring exerting upward pressure on said valve to normally engageit with said upper downwardly facing seat, a latch pivoted to said guideto underlie said stem and normally hold said valve against engagementwith said lower upwardly facing seat, and a float operatively connectedwith said latch for releasing the same when the tank has been. filled toa predetermined level. JAMES E. BROWNING.

